We are exited to be celebrating first holy Eucharist with all of our children this morning who have been preparing throughout the year. Their teachers have worked hard with them. They have all received the sacrament of first reconciliation. And they are now ready for this big step today on their journey of faith. We are very proud of all of you children. We celebrate with great joy with you and your families today.
We have been hearing readings throughout the Easter season that help us understand Jesus’ resurrection after he had been put to death on the cross, what that resurrection means for us on our journey of faith, the salvation and the new life we receive in Jesus.
Last weekend, boys and girls, you may remember that we spoke about Jesus as the Good Shepherd who cares for his sheep. We always have Uno up here at Mass with us, don’t we? He represents the sheep that Jesus needs to reach out to with special love and care. Jesus is always looking out for us, isn't he? He is always with us on our journey. Uno always reminds us of that.
Jesus promises eternal life with him and with the father for those of us who are his disciples. Jesus says that he is going to prepare a place for us so that we can be with him. Later in the Easter season, Jesus is going to ascend into heaven and will send us the Holy Spirit to help us on our journey. Today, he speaks about the eternal life that we will have in our faith, how after our life here on earth is finished, we will have eternal life with God in heaven. This is what our celebration of Easter is all about. How Jesus changes everything for us.
We not only have our parish here at Holy Savior, part of the universal Catholic Church and the Catholic Church here in the Diocese of Jackson led by Bishop Kopacz. We have a church with our family as well. And that church is very important too. Your parents and your families form you in your faith. Your families have helped you prepare for today when you will receive the Eucharist for the first, Jesus entering your lives in a special way. This host is now a regular wafer of bread. Later in the Mass, in our Eucharistic prayer and in our consecration, it will become the body and blood of Christ. It will become food that nourishes us on our journey of faith. The word we have for the body and blood of Christ, Eucharist, actually has its origins in a Greek word that mean thanksgiving, gratitude, or giving thanks. We give thanks for the gift of Jesus that you are going to receive for the first time today, boys and girls.
We always celebrate first holy Eucharist in the midst of the Easter season, when we celebrate the risen Christ is a special way. The important thing, boys and girls, is to remember the body and blood of Christ that you receive at Mass as you go about your life each day. When you are having a bad day or when things don’t seem like they are going well, remember that Jesus is with you. He is calling us to acts of kindness to our parents and siblings and other family members, to act right with our teacher and with our friends and fellow students, to help others in kindness and love.
We are so happy for you boys and girls today. This is a day of great joy.
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